A VOS MARQUES, PRÊTS, PARTEZ….
Winter Sales in France
The Winter sales 2025 have been set by the préfecture for a period of 4 weeks starting on Wednesday 8th January at 8h00 until Tuesday 4th February 2025
During the sale period, shops are usually allowed to open on a couple of Sundays. Don’t worry if you miss out. You’ll get another chance when the summer sales start in June through to July.
Sales are strictly controlled in France. In the past, retailers were able to hold sales twice a year, of a maximum of six weeks, each, and on dates decided for them by the prefecture of each department. This has now been reduced to 4 weeks.
Summer sales usually take place in the last week of June, and winter sales around the second week of January. (Special promotions do not count as ‘sales’ and can take place whenever the shop wishes, as long as they conform to certain conditions- which kind of defeats the object of this 4 weeks only rule in my opinion but this is France!)
Changes over the past few years now allow retailers to choose a further two weeks, on top of the summer and winter sales, to hold their own sales weeks.
The government have also been looking for a while at laws to make Sunday trading more flexible although many large stores have so far expressed little interest in this, stating that it is not worth their while to open on Sunday and pay double time or time-off in lieu.
The Sunday closing laws actually date back 100 years to a law which grants employees the right to 24 hours complete rest in any six-day period, and is not due to religion as many believe. Although employees can volunteer to work extra hours, they may well be entitled to up to 300% of their basic wage or an extra day in lieu.
Shopper’s rights
- If the product has a hidden defect (“vice caché”) which renders the product unfit for the use for which it is intended, a replacement, a partial or total refund, or the cancellation of the whole contract can be obtained.
- If the product does not conform to its description, the consumer can demand the repair or replacement of the goods
- If the product causes damage because it is defective, the trader is responsible for damage caused.
- Where sales (soldes) are concerned, the shopkeeper is still obliged to exchange or reimburse faulty goods unless a specific fault was pointed out as the reason for its sale price.
ACCEPTING A CREDIT NOTE (un AVOIR)
After paying for a product, you change your mind although it is not faulty. Traders are not obliged to take back or cancel the order but may agree to give you a credit note.
However, if the seller is at fault (defective merchandise, late delivery, etc), you are not obliged to accept this arrangement and can insist on your money back.
AND IN SPAIN…?
Spain’s largest consumer association, L’OCU, has published some tips to clarify a few points during sales in Spain.
- If goods have been part of the regular offer for at least one month, the original price, or the reduction should be clearly shown next to the reduced price.
- Your rights remain the same for guarantees and after-sales service whether the goods were bought during or outside the sale period.
- Special conditions may be established for the sales period, such as limitations on payment and but this should be clearly indicated.
- Your sales receipt is essential for any claims, complaints, exchanges and returns.
- The seller is not obliged to refund or change the goods, though many do it for goodwill. Others will only offer credit notes or vouchers.
- Online consumers still have 14 days to return their purchase if they are not satisfied.
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